1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19: They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20: But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21: I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22: Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23: Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24: Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25: And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26: These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27: But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29: If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Introduction

I have no doubt we are living in the last days. In these last days the church of Jesus Christ is facing great danger. The end times will be a time of great crisis for the believers in Jesus Christ. As the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ draws near, the intensity of danger that we will face as Christians will only continue to increase. The Apostle Paul warns us about the last days in his letters to Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

The last days will be a perilous time for the believers. It will be a difficult and dangerous time for the believers. The last days will be mark by anarchy, apostasy, and apathy. Vance Havner says that, “our day is one of anarchy in the world, of apostasy in the church and of apathy in the individual believer.”

As one commentator noted, “We should note what the hardness or danger of this time is in Paul’s view to be, not war, not famine or diseases, nor any of the other calamities or ills that befall the body, but the wicked and depraved ways of men.”

In other words, the “last days” will be difficult and dangerous because as Paul puts it “... evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13) Isn’t that what we see taking place right before our eyes in our world today? Mankind disregard all moral restraints and becoming more and more open and bold in their sin. One of the dangers that we will face in these last days is that the spirit of the antichrist will become more and more active. The spirit of antichrist will manifest in at least three ways, namely, there will be an increasing number of people who will desert the church, deny Christ, and deceive the Christians. 

Now, what can we Christians do? How do we stand in the last days? How can we counteract the spirit of the antichrist in these last days? The apostle John gives us at least four defenses for us to be able to stand in the last times, namely, Abide in the Church, Abide in the Word, Abide in the Spirit, and Abide in Christ.

I - Abide in the Church

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

As we saw last time there were those in John’s days who used to be present and active in the church have now deserted the church. Let me remind you that John is not referring to those who left one church fellowship to join another church fellowship. No, he is referring to those in their congregation who left the biblical church for good because they have embraced false teachings. Their leaving the church shows the state of their hearts—lost and never experienced the grace of God. Hiebert says it this way, “Outwardly they had been members of the church, but inwardly they never shared the inner spiritual fellowship of the group.” Their departure from the church proved they lacked a saving faith in Jesus Christ, that they never truly knew Him in the first place.

Brothers and sisters, if you are going to stand in these last days, you must abide in the church. Stay in the church for the apostle Paul says, the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. That’s what makes the local church extremely important this morning. Don’t believe Satan’s lie that the church is non-essential. The church is the place where you are going to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is the place where you are going to have the opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and fellow believers with your spiritual gifts and talents. Oh, do not think that you can live your Christian life in isolation. You and I were not designed for isolation. We have a great need for godly community of believers. You cannot live a victorious Christian life alone. Even our Lord Jesus Christ did not walk alone when He came to earth. He called disciples to walk with Him and learn of Him. The great commission calls us to do the same, to follow in His footsteps (Matthew 28:19–20). To evangelize and to take new believers and bring them to the fold of Christ, helping them understand their responsibility and daily walk as believers. We need community of believers to teach us, hold us accountable, pray with us, and carry our burdens.

There’s so much Scripture that talks about the importance of church and fellowship. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10: For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11: Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12: And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Two are better than one because we can help each other up and encourage each other. We are stronger together. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Encourage each other and build each other up. 

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Godly fellowship sharpens us and makes us more effective (iron sharpening iron).

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Abide in the church of God. Stick close to the church. Center your life in the church. Cherish the Church. Give yourself for the church. Christ died for the church. The Church is precious to Christ.

Psalms 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13: Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14: They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15: To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

The church is where Christ manifests His glory and presence. It is the pillar and ground of truth. It is where He blesses His people. So, abide in the church and here is the second thing ...

II - Abide in the Word

1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22: Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23: Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

John’s object in writing them was not to teach them new truth or doctrine, but to remind them of what they already knew and use that knowledge and not depart from it as some sadly have already done. And one of the great truths they already knew is that Jesus is the Christ and that He is Son of God come in the flesh. Some have already denied this truth. So, John says in verse 24, “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

If you and I are to stand in these last days, we must get into the Word. The best remedy against errors is truth. The best protection from errors is truth and the truth is found in the Word of God. Our Lord in John 17:17, proclaims, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” We must know the truth. We must know the Bible. Study the Book. Know what and why you believe. Get into the Bible. This is God’s provision against the spirit of antichrist that is so prevalent in our world today.

Abide in the church and abide in the Word of God. And here is the third thing...

III - Abide in the Spirit

1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The word “unction” in verse 20 and the word “anointing” in verse 27 are the same Greek word ‘chrisma.” These words speak of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. These two verses are simply saying that without the Holy Spirit we would not know the truth. Our Lord spoke about this in the upper room.

John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

It is the Holy Spirit Who leads us into all truth. Knowing the truth about Christ is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:

Here, John reminds his readers that the Holy Spirit which every believer has received from God at salvation, abides in them and so, they have no need that anyone should teach them. This does not mean that they do not need teachers or teaching, because we read in ...

Ephesians 4:10-12, these words, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Our ascended Lord has given spiritual gifts in the church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and these are for the building up of the body of Christ. This clearly implies that the church still needs teachers and teaching. So, what is John’s point in this verse? The apostle John’s point here is that believers by the Spirit of God, are able to counteract the false and erroneous teachings of the false teachers in John’s days.

Hiebert explains it this way, “The apostle’s words must be understood in the light of the context; he “is dealing not with the accumulation of the knowledge of the truth, but with the detection of the truth.” John here has in mind the teachings of the Gnostics who claimed to possess an enlightenment which rose higher than the revelation in Christ proclaimed by the apostles. Because the Holy Spirit indwells the true believer and enables him to discern heretical error, he has no need for some cult leader to initiate him into additional secret “knowledge” or professed spiritual insights.”

John’s point is that they don’t need “enlightened” prophets who claim to add new information about Christ beyond the truth they heard at the beginning. If you and I are to stand in these last days, we must abide in the Spirit. We must depend on the teaching of the Holy Spirit. We must remain in fellowship with the Spirit of God. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit nor quench the Holy Spirit.

Abide in the Church, abide in the Word of God, abide in the Spirit. And here is the fourth thing...

IV - Abide in Christ

Just before our Lord Jesus was crucified, He spoke to His disciples in the Upper Room Discourse these parting words, John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3: Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6: If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Here, our Lord taught His disciples that we are to abide in Him like a branch abides in a vine. As a branch that does not abide in the vine will not bear fruit, so is a Christian who does not abide in Christ will not bear much spiritual fruit. Abiding in Jesus Christ is a call to a deep, intimate, and personal fellowship with Christ. To abide in Christ is our responsibility. Spurgeon explains that, “Abiding in Jesus is not a passive thing; it is an active thing. We must give ourselves, mentally and spiritually, to living in Jesus.” Conscious abiding in Christ should be the desire of every believer, and the way to abide is clearly described in Scripture. It involves spending time and being at home with the Lord. It involves allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections. Understand that our relationship as born-again Christian is settled and fixed, but our fellowship with Him depends upon whether we abide in Him as we ought.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we must abide in the Son of God, if we are to stand in these last days, for our Lord Himself said, “for without me ye can do nothing.” Abiding in Christ and in His Word will enable you to overcome the evil one and will guard you from being deceived by false teachers and from the spirit of antichrist.

Closing Thoughts

Abide in the Church, abide in the Word, abide in the Spirit, and abide in Christ. This is God’s gracious provision for us in order to stand in the last days, in order to counteract the spirit of antichrist which is so prevalent in our day.

Let me close with what J. C. Ryle wrote hundred years ago and I believe it is still very relevant in our day:

“You live in a world where your soul is in constant danger. Enemies are round you on every side. Your own heart is deceitful. Bad examples are numerous. Satan is always laboring to lead you astray. Above all, false doctrine and false teachers of every kind abound. This is your great danger.

To be safe you must be well-armed. You must provide yourself with the weapons which God has given you for your help. You must store your mind with Holy Scripture. This is to be well armed. Arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of the written word of God. 

Read your Bible regularly.  Become familiar with your Bible… Neglect your Bible and nothing that I know of, can prevent you from error … Make it a rule to believe nothing except it can be proved from Scripture. The Bible alone is infallible… Do you really use your Bible as much as you ought?

There are many today, who believe the Bible, yet read it very little. Does your conscience tell you that you are one of these persons?

If so, you are the man that is likely to get little help from the Bible in time of need. Trial is a sifting experience… Your store of Bible consolations may one day run very low.

If so, you are the man that is unlikely to become established in the truth. I shall not be surprised to hear that you are troubled with doubts and questions about assurance, grace, faith, perseverance, etc. The devil is an old and cunning enemy. He can quote Scripture readily enough when he pleases. Now you are not sufficiently ready with your weapons to fight a good fight with him… Your sword is held loosely in your hand.

If so, you are the man that is likely to make mistakes in life. I shall not wonder if I am told that you have problems in your marriage, problems with your children, problems about the conduct of your family and about the company you keep. The world you steer through is full of rocks, shoals, and sandbanks. You are not sufficiently familiar either with lighthouses or charts.

If so, you are the man who is likely to be carried away by some false teacher for a time. It will not surprise me if I hear that one of these clever eloquent men who can make a convincing presentation is leading you into error. You are in need of ballast (truth); no wonder if you are tossed to and fro like a cork on the waves.

All these are uncomfortable situations. I want you to escape them all. Take the advice I offer you today. Do not merely read your Bible a little—but read it a great deal… Remember your many enemies. Be armed!”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, abide in the Church, abide in the Word, abide in the Spirit, and abide in Christ. God bless you as you do so and enable you to stand strong in these last days!

AMEN!